Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told foreign counterparts the US does not currently plan new strikes against Iran, opting instead to lean on a fresh sanctions campaign dubbed 'Operation Economic Outcast' — reportedly welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The administration says it won't rule out retaliation if Iran strikes first, but for now the strategy is economic pressure, not military escalation.
In a separate and lower-profile move, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismantled much of the Pentagon's Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response office, reportedly over near-unanimous objection from top military leadership — a decision that will shape how the US accounts for civilian casualties in any future operation, Iran or otherwise.
Meanwhile, a proposed nuclear accord would give US companies a central role in developing Saudi Arabia's nuclear infrastructure, including a path to uranium enrichment, contingent on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. Three storylines, one region, moving on very different timelines.